Long‐term experience with a totally implanted catheter system in cancer patients

Abstract

Long-term experience with totally implanted catheter systems (TICS) is limited. We retrospectively evaluated the performance and long-term complications of TICS for intravenous infusion in cancer patients; 134 systems were implanted in 128 patients. The median duration of implantation was 144 weeks with 49 systems implanted for more than one year. Complications related to surgical factors included malposition of reservoir (2%), skin perforation or wound dehiscence (1.5%) and pneumothorax (less than 1%). Complications not related to surgical factors included: drug extravasation (1.5%), mechanical malfunction (1.5%), vein thrombosis (less than 1%), clotting of the reservoir or catheter (2%), skin infection (1.5%), and sepsis (less than 1%). The total complication rate was 13%. Most complications resolved spontaneously or with medical treatment and only 6 patients (4.6%) required re-implantation of a second system. We conclude that with long-term usage of TICS, the complication rate remains low, making it a safe and viable alternative for patients requiring long-term intravenous therapy.

Mode of chemotherapy does not affect complications with an implantable venous access device

“…There is a consensus in the literature that imined risk factors associated with surgical placement of central venous catheters, 4,6-10 relative risks of subcutaplantable ports have low complication rates. 3,4,6,8 Our complication rate using the Infus-a-Port was also low: neously tunneled catheters vs. implantable ports, 8,9,11,12 and long term complication rates of these only 27 events occurred in 43,239 port days (0.0006 complications per day). This rate was similar to the devices.…”

“…A subcutaneous pocket is created in the infraclavicular space, and the proximal end of the established by negative blood culture in the setting of fever and coexisting clinical evidence of site erythema, catheter is connected to the portal with a locking ring. 6 After implantation, a chest X-ray is obtained immediedema, and/or exudation. Of the 158 devices, 153 were used for chemotherapy tients who had ipsilateral axillary and/or upper extremity edema.…”

“…[3][4][5][6][7][8] In this patient population, 108 ports were in place for least 1 episode of severe neutropenia as determined by measures of absolute neutrophil count (ANC) less less than 1 year, 43 ports were in place for more than 1 year, and 7 ports were in place for more than 2 years.…”

“…Cleaning and dressing of the port gations, with the consensus being that they are safe and carry low complication rates. [3][4][5][6] The focus has site was done according to standardized procedure, using commercially prepared central venous catheter been on the relative safety of the device itself and placement techniques. Little data are available concleaning kits and an aseptic technique.…”

Totally implantable venous catheters for chemotherapy: experience in 500 patients

“…This allows safe access to the vascular system for endovenous treatments. 3,4 Because this equipment is totally implantable, without any of its components brought to the surface through the skin, it offers advantages over partially implantable systems: 5 low infection rates and no restrictions on patients' physical activities. 2 These advantages have been leading to increasingly frequent use of such systems, especially for outpatient chemotherapy treatment of neoplasms and acquired immunodeficiency (aids).…”